Anbody here good at basketball?

[Airsofter]

Hi, I am 16 and looking for some basketball tips. Is anybody here a fairly good ballplayer? I am a decent player. I play on HealthPlex and YMCA Men's leagues right now. I probably couldn't make the varsity team at my school yet. I have 2 big games on Sunday that will determine playoff spots so I want to do well in them. I also hope to make varsity next year and play in the spring league.

First, I guess I should give some background info. I am 6' and 150lbs. I am very lanky, but in excellent physical shape. My benchpress is around 155lbs and I wrote that "Ultimate Muscle Training Guide" that was on here before if anybody remembers. I am usually one of the fastest guys on the court, so I try to use that to my advantage. I would probably be one of the strongest too, but I am playing against guys who are 20-26, so I get overpowered down low.

My fundamentals are good. I am a very good passer, a solid rebounder, and have a good shot. My ball handling skills are alright, but I don't have too many moves. Usually, I just pull off a simple cross over, fake cross over, through the legs, behind the back, or a spin move. I never really tried much else. One problem I have is that I am not comfortable with the ball. I definately don't drive enough.

Like I said before, I have a good shot. I'll usually hit it if I am open. My only problem is if I rush the shot or don't follow through. I'll never miss on a layup. The thing is, I don't average many points per game. I put up maybe 5 points a game. I attribute this to not taking enough shots. I only put up about 3 shots a game. I really don't know why, maybe I have to be more selfish with the ball.

I need to start jumping more. I have had people who are shorter than me, block me down low. My vertical is good at about 26", but I don't come off the ground enough when shooting. I just do a little 4" hop most of the time.

Speaking of my vertical, I can get rim by a couple inches. This is not quite enough to dunk it. If I could add maybe another 3-5", I could probably dunk. The problem is, I never really feel 100% at games. There is some wierdo guy on another team who does Yoga and listens to subliminal tapes or something. I have at least 6" on him, but he is very good and can dunk easily. I don't know a thing about that though and am not sure if I want to know.

Regardless, my game has improved a lot over the past few years and I consider myself an above adverage player at the least. I just need that extra edge. I am sure I could start for varsity if I played a lot over the summer (there are 4 courts within a mile of my house at home and 2 down the shore). The tip that helped me the most was to play aggressive. You can Not play soft if you want to be good.

To sum it all up, I need some tips to go from very good to "very great".

 

[cyclohexane]

Hate to tell ya buddy, but ATOT is probably the last place to ask for basketball advice...

 

[bradruth]

I started varsity for 3 years, so I have a little experience.

You don't need a bunch of fancy moves to be successful.

Selfishness is bad.

You don't need to dunk.

With your size you should probably focus on a perimeter position, such as small forward. Keep working on your shooting and hone your ball handling.

 

[Airsofter]

Yeah, I think I need to continue with what I have been doing and just perfect my game. I really should pick a permanent position, because I get shuffled around a lot. I prefer shooting guard, but I occasionally play the point and even center.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Airsofter
Yeah, I think I need to continue with what I have been doing and just perfect my game. I really should pick a permanent position, because I get shuffled around a lot. I prefer shooting guard, but I occasionally play the point and even center.

Stay on the perimeter.

 

[Coquito]

Keep developing you game. Don't confine yourself to being one dimensional. At the same time, do refine yourself so you are useful within a certain aspect of the game. If you say your a good shooter, become a great shooter. If little guys are keeping you out the box, learn enough down there to keep them honest. If you're a guard, & you can't shoot like Chris Mullin or Dell Curry, or don't have moves like Arenas, every team needs a capable ball handler. Not someone who can dribble fancy, but someone who can take care of the ball & get it to the right people.

 

[puffff]

play with confidence. even a little swagger.

 

[EKKC]

try bball forums like www.justbball.com

the last time i touched a basketball was high school. that was 10 years ago

 

[Airsofter]

I basically fit that description. My game is really solid, it's just that I don't score very much which is ironic because I am a very good shooter. I was thinking about it; maybe the problem is that I try to do too much on offense. My typical routine is to setup at the perimeter, cross the baseline and look for the pass, go to the other perimeter, etc. Maybe I should just stay put.

Also, do I have any realistic shot at playing college basketball, even D3. I could probably be a solid starter for varsity next year. I highly doubt that I have any shot, but 2 of the seniors this year got offered scholarships. This isn't a big deal to me though as my grades are good with a GPA govering around 4.00.

 

[MazerRackham]

Two points is two points!

 

[bondboy]

:beer:

 

[James3shin]

how's your defense? also, it doesn't sound like you want to play PG, but maybe a SG or F right? If so, work on your perimeter like bradruth said, take a few more shots also.

 

[Airsofter]

My defense is very solid. People rarely get by me whether it is in the post or on the perimeter. It is probably the strong point of my game.

 

[Juno]

i have a vastly experience playing basketball. i still do play basketball although i'm not in high school anymore.

i'll PM you because i don't have time today so i'll answer back when i get back from saturday classes.

<~~ has a 36" vertical leap depsite standing just 5'8. played point guard and dished a record 6 assists in a quarter. and ahh yes, i'm asian.

 

[hollowman]

trashtalk is your bestfriend. =)

 

[tfinch2]

I don't know the level of competition of varsity in your area, but a 26" vertical isn't going to cut it, especially if you are only 6'. Most people with a vertical higher than 32" are quick, so your probably not very quick either. That's where you should work the hardest. Don't worry about skills but more about raw athletic ability.

Start with defense. There is little skill to defense, it's all about agression and athletic ability. If you can keep your man in front of you and shut someone down you deserve to be in the game.

As far as offense, I'm not sure the type of competition your playing against, but 6' is too short to play anything other than sg or pg at the varsity level unless you are like 2A or 3A. Work on your ball handling. Dribble a ball everywhere you go. You will get better. Next on offense, when you don't have the ball, MOVE! Don't stand around and just watch the others. Get yourself open. If you can't create off the dribble, which it sounds like you can't, you have to move to get yourself open.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: cyclohexane
Hate to tell ya buddy, but ATOT is probably the last place to ask for basketball advice...

False. A lot of people here play basketball.

 

[Juno]

Originally posted by: joedrake

Originally posted by: cyclohexane
Hate to tell ya buddy, but ATOT is probably the last place to ask for basketball advice...

False. A lot of people here play basketball.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: puffff
play with confidence. even a little swagger.

QFT! I played my best ball with a chip on my shoulder, and running my mouth a little bit.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Airsofter
My defense is very solid. People rarely get by me whether it is in the post or on the perimeter. It is probably the strong point of my game.

Defense may not get you all the recognition in the world, but it's by far the most important aspect of the game. I focused heavily on defense when I played and most games I had the lane locked down. I specialized in blocking shots and taking charges. Learn how to take a charge and your stock will rise.

 

[iamme]

it's really hard to give sports advice without seeing you play in person.

 

[PetunZ]

It sounds like you need training tips. At 6', you're a little small to be a true post player, but adding that dimension will really give you an edge since you're tall enough to switch between a 2 guard, small forward, and even a tiny bit as a power forward.

Work on your shot coming off screens. You need to have more endurance (think Rip Hamilton) since you'll be running a hell of a lot, but you'll get those open looks. Coming off screens will allow you open jump shots, or you can curl to the hoop. Make sure you elevate and go to the hoop strong if you're in the middle.

As a post player, work on really holding off your defender. Give the outer teammate a place where you want the ball (hold your other hand up and expect a hard entry pass). There's always a great "up-and-under" move that you can do, or a jump hook in the lane, but always try to attack the rim (if you're in a good position on the block).

Be patient. If you're not getting good looks, look to dish it off down low, or out on the perimeter, work a screen with another post player, or run off a screen for an open look.

Keep moving. The worst thing to do is stand still (unless you're posting up).

Training tips --

Outdoors:
If you want to work on your legs, a good workout for quick hops is going to the bleachers. For one minute, jump up on the lowest bleacher seats and then back down. Do as many as you can. Do about 3 sets of this. Work on your sprinting ability. Do sprints until you're tired. Now that you're tired, work in a few more quick hops on the bleachers. You'll really feel it.

These will make your rebounding stronger. You'll be able to get up super fast and if it takes a bad bounce, you'll be able to go down and back up quicker.

Indoors:
Work on your agility. Do suicides (running from baseline to free throw line, back, to half court line, etc). Get a friend and work on your defense. Contain him before he goes to the sidelines. Grab a basketball and do alley-oop layup drills (bounce the basketball off the backboard, jump and use only one hand to bounce the ball back off the backboard again -- the point is to only touch the ball while you're in the air -- keep doing this until you get tired). Work BOTH hands on both sides of the rim.

Just a preliminary workout routine. Good luck.